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The role of titanium in TiO2:SiO2 mixed sol-gels: An x-ray and neutron diffraction study

Rigden, Jane S., Walters, J.K., Dirken, P.J., Smith, Mark E., Bushnell-Wye, Graham, Howells, W.S., Newport, Robert J. (1997) The role of titanium in TiO2:SiO2 mixed sol-gels: An x-ray and neutron diffraction study. Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter, 9 (20). pp. 4001-4016. ISSN 0953-8984. (doi:10.1088/0953-8984/9/20/001) (KAR id:15975)

Abstract

Conventional transmission and shallow-angle x-ray diffraction, together with complementary high real-space resolution neutron diffraction data, are used to reveal details of the effect of adding titania to a silica-based sol-gel. A direct observation of the Ti-O correlation has been possible. At Ti contents low enough to ensure atomic homogeneity, the data are consistent with the fourfold oxygen coordination around the metal site derived from NMR spectra. Even at these low concentrations the nature of the silica network is shown to have been affected significantly, with bondlength distributions being narrowed, and with an increased level of Si-OH indicating a qualitative change in the mesoscopic structure associated with interfacial surfaces. Data from a sample having a Ti content high enough to bring about phase separation is also presented. The shallow-angle-of-incidence x-ray diffraction method is used to provide information on the differences in structure between 'bulk' materials and those deposited as spun thin films; the data suggest an increased level of disorder in the thin films.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1088/0953-8984/9/20/001
Subjects: Q Science
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Natural Sciences > Physics and Astronomy
Depositing User: J.M. Smith
Date Deposited: 29 Apr 2009 13:50 UTC
Last Modified: 16 Nov 2021 09:53 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/15975 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Newport, Robert J..

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